Julie Elizabeth Powell's Blog, page 21
November 10, 2017
THE LAST BREATH by Leigh Lennon
THE LAST BREATH
The Breathless series, book 1
by Leigh Lennon
Genre: Contemporary Literary Fiction Romance
Cover Designer: LKO Designs
Release Date: Nov 17, 2017
Loss is not foreign to Julia Barnett. To the outside world she is the epitome of the perfect mom. That is, until the doors of her impeccable life are closed and reality hits her square in the face. Once the leading lady in her own epic love story, she can only look back at what used to be. With an absent husband, an intrusive father, a troubled child, and an ex-fiancé that is still tied to her life, it’s no wonder Julia is grasping for air in her chaotic world.
The bruises that Julia lives with are invisible to those closest to her. She lost so much early in life, more than most could survive. Now, she grapples with resentment towards her husband because of all the empty promises he’s made. In the midst of this turmoil, test results reveal an illness she is not sure she will survive.
For Julia, it is not her life that may be cut short that consumes her, but how her family will endure without her there. As everyone rallies around Julia while she fights like hell to live, she learns that family, along with love, comes in many shapes and sizes. It is her family that gives her the strength to fight the biggest battle of her life; one she doesn’t want to lose.
Julia
Every year as summer faded into fall and fall approached winter; Julia would find herself watching the calendar with dread. She knew that as November approached, she would once more have to face the reminder of her life’s greatest tragedy.
The day served as a bitter memento of what Julia had lost seventeen years before. What made the anniversary even worse, if that was possible, was the fact that she could not confide in her husband the agony she felt.
Joe, her husband, did not share in her grief and considered the events surrounding that fateful day to be a part of her life before him. While she wanted to be held by him and consoled as she worked through the agony of her loss, Joe treated it all as a distant anecdote in their lives that had no bearing on life today. In Joe’s eyes, the time Julia spent mourning the loss of her first child was her way of continuing to mourn for the life she once had.
Sitting in her office that morning, Julia stared at the bouquet of baby pink roses that had just arrived. She received the exact same flowers every year on this day. They came from the same florist and were always sent by the same man. The trouble was that these flowers never came from her husband, Joe. They came from Dean Edwards.
Julia was a rare beauty. She had an olive complexion just like her father’s and dark brown hair accented by mocha brown eyes. While she only stood 5 feet and 3 inches, Julia had no problem standing out in a crowd. Besides her obvious beauty, Julia was a kind-hearted woman with a warm and caring personality. She loved the people in her life immensely and worked hard in each of her relationships. She was an excellent boss, a trusted friend, dedicated wife and mother. It was her ambition to serve as a model for other people and to treat them, as she would want to be treated.
As Julia looked up from the flowers before her, she noticed her business partner, Len Edwards, waving to get her attention. This man was like a second father to Julia.
“Hey Jules, mind if I come in for a second? I see Joe sent you some flowers. That man sure has a way with making you feel special, wouldn’t you say?” Len didn’t know the flowers were actually a gift from his son Dean and not Julia’s husband.
Smiling warmly at Len, she did her best to ignore the compliment about her husband the same way she was trying to ignore the roses sitting on her desk. “Hey Len, come in. I’m glad you’re here. I need to take off early today. I have some personal stuff that I can’t keep putting off. Mary Beth will be here though, and she can take care of anything that comes up.”
Julia Hudson and Len Edwards had been in business together for the past nine years. They ran a very successful marketing firm that had grown from a small independent company into one of national prominence. Their success was due to a shared commitment to core values of honesty and integrity.
“You okay, Jules?” Julia understood that Len had always looked at her as an unofficial daughter and worried about her. This fact was less than surprising given how long Julia had been a friend with Len’s own children along with the amount of time they had all spent in the company of one another.
Like many who had known Julia for years, Len could see that she had lost the spark that had once been in her eyes. He knew that life at home was hard for her and had been for some time. In truth, the spark had started to fade seventeen years prior when Julia had mysteriously broken off her engagement to Dean. She had regained some of that spark back two years later when she met Joe, her husband today. The trouble was that in the past five years, it had started to fade again.
“Oh, yes, um, sorry to just leave like this. I have the Laney Farms contracts ready for signatures. Mary Beth will come get you when they arrive for the 2:30 meeting. She’s lead on this contract, but it may help if you are there as well.” She was distracted, grabbing her keys, pocketbook and flowers. She tried her best to make it to her car before she fell apart. If it hadn’t been for this important contract, she would have never even attempted to come in at all today.
The flowers were not the only routine event she followed when this day arrived each year. It was a standing custom that Julia and Dean would arrive at the cemetery around the same time. Julia knew that the roses she received were never for her, but were a clear indicator that the fateful day had once more arrived.
This novel releases Nov 17th.
Sign up for Leigh's newsletter or follow her Facebook or Amazon page to be informed when the novel is up for pre-order.
Leigh Lennon is mother, veteran and a wife of a cancer survivor. Originally with a degree in education, she started writing as an outlet that has led a deep passion as she wrote twelve books. Now ready to publish all of them, she lugs her computer with her as she crafts her next story. She can be found drinking coffee or wine, depending on the time of the day.
Facebook ✯ Website ✯ Twitter ✯ Newsletter ✯ Amazon ✯ Goodreads
November 7, 2017
The Student and the Slave by Annie Douglass Lima
Take a look at this exciting new young adult action and adventure novel, The Student and the Slave, now available for purchase! This is the third book in the Krillonian Chronicles, after The Collar and the Cavvarach and The Gladiator and the Guard.
The series is set in an alternate world that is very much like our own, with just a few major differences. One is that slavery is legal there. Slaves must wear metal collars that lock around their neck, making their enslaved status obvious to everyone. Another difference is the popularity of a martial art called cavvara shil. It is fought with a cavvarach (rhymes with "have a rack"), a weapon similar to a sword but with a steel hook protruding from partway down its top edge. Competitors can strike at each other with their feet as well as with the blades. You win in one of two ways: disarming your opponent (hooking or knocking their cavvarach out of their hands) or pinning their shoulders to the mat for five seconds.
First, a Little Information about Books 1 and 2:
Book 1: The Collar and the Cavvarach
Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is desperate to see his little sister freed. But only victory in the Krillonian Empire's most prestigious tournament will allow him to secretly arrange for Ellie's escape. Dangerous people are closing in on her, however, and Bensin is running out of time. With his one hope fading quickly away, how can Bensin save Ellie from a life of slavery and abuse?
Click here to read chapter 1 of The Collar and the Cavvarach.
Click here to read about life in the Krillonian Empire, where the series is set.
Book 2: The Gladiator and the GuardBensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is just one victory away from freedom. But after he is accused of a crime he didn’t commit, he is condemned to the violent life and early death of a gladiator. While his loved ones seek desperately for a way to rescue him, Bensin struggles to stay alive and forge an identity in an environment designed to strip it from him. When he infuriates the authorities with his choices, he knows he is running out of time. Can he stand against the cruelty of the arena system and seize his freedom before that system crushes him?
Click here to read about life in the arena where Bensin and other gladiators are forced to live and train.
And now, The Student and the Slave, with another awesome cover by the talented Jack Lin!
Book 3: The Student and the Slave
Is this what freedom is supposed to be like? Desperate to provide for himself and his sister Ellie, Bensin searches fruitlessly for work like all the other former slaves in Tarnestra. He needs the money for an even more important purpose, though: to rescue Coach Steene, who sacrificed himself for Bensin’s freedom. When members of two rival street gangs express interest in Bensin’s martial arts skills, he realizes he may have a chance to save his father figure after all … at a cost.
Meanwhile, Steene struggles with his new life of slavery in far-away Neliria. Raymond, his young owner, seizes any opportunity to make his life miserable. But while Steene longs to escape and rejoin Bensin and Ellie, he starts to realize that Raymond needs him too. His choices will affect not only his own future, but that of everyone he cares about. Can he make the right ones … and live with the consequences?
Click here to order The Student and the Slave from Amazon for $2.99 a discounted price of just 99 cents through November 31st!
About the Author:Annie Douglass Lima spent most of her childhood in Kenya and
later graduated from Biola University in Southern California. She and her
husband Floyd currently live in Taiwan, where she teaches fifth grade at
Morrison Academy. She has been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since
her childhood, and to date has published fifteen books (three YA action and
adventure novels, four fantasies, a puppet script, six anthologies of her
students’ poetry, and a Bible verse coloring and activity book). Besides
writing, her hobbies include reading (especially fantasy and science fiction),
scrapbooking, and international travel.
Connect with the Author Online:
Email: AnnieDouglassLima@gmail.com
Blog: http://anniedouglasslima.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieDouglassLimaAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/princeofalasia
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGoodreads
Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/AnnieDouglassLimaOnAmazon
LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnLinkedIn
Google+: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGooglePlus
Now, enter to win an Amazon gift card or a free digital copy of the first two books in the series!
-->
Wow - book three of this brilliant story! I bought and read book one and two and loved them, then I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of The Student and the Slave...fabulous.
The Student and the Slave - final book of the trilogy.
Amazon UK: https://goo.gl/3vFKgv
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076ZN944F/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Blurb:
Is this what freedom is supposed to be like? Desperate to provide for himself and his sister Ellie, Bensin searches fruitlessly for work like all the other former slaves in Tarnestra. He needs the money for an even more important purpose, though: to rescue Coach Steene, who sacrificed himself for Bensin’s freedom. When members of two rival street gangs express interest in Bensin’s martial arts skills, he realizes he may have a chance to save his father figure after all … at a cost.
Steene struggles with his new life of slavery in far-away Neliria. Raymond, his young owner, seizes any opportunity to make his life miserable. But while Steene longs to escape and rejoin Bensin and Ellie, he starts to realize that Raymond needs him too. His choices will affect not only his own future, but that of everyone he cares about. Can he make the right ones … and live with the consequences?
Excerpt:
In this excerpt, Bensin stumbles into an unexpected situation in his new neighbourhood.
The noises grew louder, and soon Bensin heard voices mixed in. A truck with its headlights off was approaching on the street ahead, but he saw that someone had dragged trashcans, old tires, and other debris out into the street, blocking it. That’s weird. Figures were hurrying around the roadblock, adding bulky objects to the pile.
Bensin slowed to a walk, puzzled and suddenly unsure if he wanted to go running into this situation. What’s going on?
The truck stopped, and the driver blasted the horn. A smaller truck, a pickup, pulled up behind the big one, and a dozen men jumped down from the back. Some of them produced weapons; Bensin saw the glint of blades — and was that a gun? The men ran forward, some of them attacking the figures in the road, others grabbing pieces of the roadblock and pulling them out of the way. The figures in the road produced clubs. From doorways and alleys and even upper-story windows, more people appeared. Some charged forward with more clubs, and others started throwing rocks and bricks and other chunks of debris at the guys from the pickup. The pickup guys yelled in anger, raising arms to shield themselves. Those not already engaged in combat sprinted toward the people pelting them. The yells increased, and then a gunshot rang out, followed by another.
Bensin backed away, his heart pounding. Whatever he had stumbled into, he had better get out of here before anyone noticed him.
***
My review
I am a fan of this author's work and this trilogy is yet another highly recommended read in my opinion.
Yes, it's a great story, however, the issue of slavery is disturbing and yet, it's a compelling read.
Why?
The characters are believable and though not all likeable, they are perfect for the plot; you'll find that you care for what happens to them all.
Not willing to give away too much, I can only say that it's filled with action, suspense, heart-pumping moments, reality surrounded by fantasy and, of course, the main theme of slavery and what it means to both sides.
There is a fantastic sense of place, yet I would hate it to be real...even if it feels like it is.
Overall, an amazing end to an imaginative fantasy, although it feels so real it'll disturb you.
You must read it to find out what happens, and if you haven't read the first two - get them now!
Highly recommended - okay, I've said that, but it is!
***
Books one and two:
The Collar and the Cavvarach
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Gladiator and the Guard - 99c from today until 13 November!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
***
Find Annie Douglass Lima on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
***
Remember: Rafflecopter Giveaway:
https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/dis...?
***
Want to know more about Tarnestra? Visit: https://anniedouglasslima.blogspot.co...
***
So there you have it. A highly recommended trilogy from me - I'm sure you'll love it!
November 5, 2017
GUARDIAN UNRAVELED by Georgia Lyn Hunter
GUARDIAN UNRAVELED
Fallen Guardians, book 3
by Georgia Lyn Hunter
Genre: Paranormal Romance
From the scorching pits of Tartarus, a warrior emerges with a deadly need for more than vengeance…
A loner, Dagan, lives with an inexorable thirst he’s kept hidden for eons, even from his fellow Guardians. Until he meets a beautiful, maddening human who awakens in him a hunger that shakes him to his very core, and threatens to shatter his tightly erected shields, exposing his dangerous secret. And wanting her is a path leading to destruction.
Driven to find her missing mother in a shadowy world, Shae Ion refuses to be sidetracked. When she becomes the target for a sinister force, a sinfully sexy and utterly impossible immortal abducts her, and he’ll stop at nothing to keep her safe.
Stuck in an isolated place with the reclusive Guardian who allows no one close, Shae struggles to control her new burgeoning powers, and is unprepared for the tangled emotions he stirs in her. But passion has a way of obliterating barriers.
However, the road to happiness is strewn with treachery. When an old enemy strikes, and comes after Shae, they are drawn into a terrifying, supernatural battle. And not even Dagan, a lethal, immortal warrior who’d lay down his life for her, can save her now…
Shae inhaled deeply, counted to ten, and prayed a madman hadn’t abducted her.
He remained hunkered down in front of her, eyes cool, his powerful forearms braced on his muscular, leather-clad thighs. Small scars marred his tanned fingers he kept loosely clasped in front of him. He wore a wide, corded leather band on one thick wrist and several narrow ones on his other. His black t-shirt stretched across his broad shoulders like a second skin, the short sleeves revealing bulging biceps. On his left one, he sported a sword-like tattoo made up of a myriad of intricate designs. It was unusual, like nothing she’d ever seen.
With those clothes and his long, ropey hair, he dressed like an extra from a movie shoot or something.
“You can’t keep me here,” she tried to reason with him. “You have to let me go. My uncle will be frantic and calling the cops by now.”
“Not until you answer my questions. Those dead men?”
She scowled, all thoughts of being calm and rational flying out the window. He’d accosted her outside the club, kidnapped her, and now he expected her to answer his damn questions? “Just what the hell are you talking about? What dead men?”
Sure, he was infuriatingly good-looking, but then so was Ted Bundy.
At the thought of the serial killer who’d charmed and murdered several college girls, Shae sprang to her feet and bulleted for the door. He grabbed her around the waist. Crap, she’d forgotten how fast he could move.
“Lemme go!” She hit him, but he merely swept her into his arms like she was some delicate freakin’ daisy and carried her back. Furious, she bit him. Hard. And hoped her teeth did some real damage to his biceps.
An annoyed grunt escaped him. “Stop that, you little hellcat.”
Like a bag of unwanted grain, he dropped her on her butt, back on the mat again.
Pain jarred up her spine, and she clenched her teeth. But the three angry, red streaks scored on his powerful forearm had her blinking.
She’d done that? Shocked to her core at her dreadful behavior, Shae opened her mouth to apologize but when she met those burning yellow eyes that had taken on hints of orange, a spurt of anger cut through her guilt. “This is kidnapping. I’m gonna have your barbaric ass thrown in jail!”
“Try. When you’re ready to talk, scream. Maybe I’ll hear you, maybe I won’t.” His eyes like flint, he stalked out, shutting the door quietly behind him, only to stride back inside. He crossed to the far end of the room, grabbed all the swords from the stand there, and walked out again. Leaving behind a small fridge. Right then, she wanted to fling the appliance at his arrogant head. Except he looked like he could break her neck with just one hand.
She had to get out of here before he came back.
Amazon ✯ B&N ✯ iTunes ✯ Kobo ✯ Smashwords ✯ Goodreads
Born in the flames of Heaven’s wrath, he’s all things sinful and too dangerous to love.
An immortal Guardian of the human race, Aethan has walked alone for millennia, trapped in a hell of his own. Until a feisty mortal crosses his path. A female he shouldn’t even look at, one who shakes the precarious foundations of all that he is, and one who’s determined to walk the edge of danger.
All her life, Echo Carter wanted “normal”, an impossible feat given that she can see demons. Drawn back to the alleys of New York, she’s determined to hunt down the one responsible for the death of her friend. And no man, no matter how sexy, will stop her. Until she discovers a horrifying truth about herself, forcing her to turn to the one man she should avoid. Aethan.
But when two stubborn wills collide, a dangerous passion ignites…
As evil closes in, Aethan has to overcome his darkest fears and claim Echo as his. If he doesn't, he just could lose her to a far more sinister fate…
*This is a re-edited version with an added epilogue.
An immortal without a soul is bad enough. But when his only tether to remaining honorable is his addiction to bone-crushing pain, it makes Blaéz a dangerously loose cannon.
A Guardian sworn to protect mortals from supernatural evil, Blaéz straddles the edge of darkness as his needs grow. When a good deed brings him to the doorstep of a female unlike any other, one whose touch ignites emotions long lost in the hellish pits of Tartarus, he’s determined not to lose her. She belongs to him. But she’s human. Forbidden. And bringing her into his life may just destroy them both.
Darci Callahan has given up on love. But when a lethally handsome stranger suddenly appears late one night, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the captivating man with the pale, empty eyes—a man who awakens in her a desire she never believed possible. Except Blaéz brings more than unexpected passion to her life, he brings danger.
In this treacherous new world of gods and demons, Darci soon discovers a heart-shattering truth and the twisted games the gods play. Caught in the crosshairs, she’s forced to accept that, sometimes, no matter how much you love someone, you have to love them enough to let them go…
I’ve been creating stories from the moment I could string two words together. No matter the tale, it always has romance woven through them. Yes, I'm a hopeless romantic.
When I’m not writing or plotting new books, I like to read, travel, painting, or troll flea markets where I usually buy things I might never actually use because they're so pretty.
After working in a few jobs all art related, a chosen career as a fashion designer, then an art teacher, I finally found my passion four years ago: writing. There really is no other job I’d rather do.
Oh, and I live in the beautiful country of South Africa.
Amazon ✯ Website ✯ Facebook ✯ Goodreads ✯ Twitter
a Rafflecopter giveaway
THE UNWILLING RECRUIT by John Evans
THE UNWILLING RECRUIT
A John Hunt Novel
by John Evans
Genre: Supernatural Thriller
Journalist John Hunt is known for taking any risk necessary to get the story. That is until his careless ambition leads to a hefty price. Reporting in Syria, John leads his cameraman Andrew three miles out of the safe zone. An explosion strikes. No one should have survived. But John did. After six months of rehabilitation, John is finally out of the hospital, he’s also out of work, and a horrific disfigurement is a constant reminder of that day. Already skating the edge of sanity, he is pushed further when his deceased cameraman pays him a visit. Both men should have died that day, yet one survived. Why, and to what end?
Hunt fearfully watched as Carl proceeded to withdraw a long, straight blade from within the folds of his jacket. It had twin edges which glinted wickedly in the pale light that came into the alley and it’s total length was a little more than a foot, easily enough for the job in hand. Carl’s face clearly showed what he intended to do next, however, he never got the chance.
Without warning Hunt heard a strangled grunt from the assailant holding him. The mans’ grip released and Hunt dropped, surprised, to one knee while the big bruiser collapsed like a felled tree, flailing futilely at his own neck.
Hunt had no time to ponder this development as, before he could move, he felt, rather than saw, a figure pass swiftly over his head, rebounding lightly off the wall where he had been restrained. Before he could look up Hunt heard three more grunts of pain swiftly followed by heavy thumps. By the time he could view his surroundings there was only one of his attackers left standing. Carl was in a fighting stance, his blade held low in his right hand, face firmly fixed on the figure facing him.
It was this figure that also drew Hunts’ attention, it belonged to a female. She was crouched low in a wide fighting stance with most of her weight balanced onto her right leg. Dressed in a figure hugging, one-piece black cat-suit which zipped up the front, calf-length military style boots and black leather gloves she looked both incredibly sexy while at the same time being extremely dangerous. She held a small curved blade in her left hand which reminded Hunt of an eagles’ talon. Hunt was transfixed. He knew this woman, he’d met her once before under very different circumstances. The jet black, waist length hair, the strong, prominent cheekbones and aquiline nose. This was Jane, his nurse from the hospital.
Carl and Jane were facing each other with respectful wariness, both poised like coiled springs. Hunt held his breath in rapt fascination. In the end it was Jane who moved first. She lunged forward, obviously hoping to catch Carl off guard, but he had been expecting this and immediately moved to parry with his own blade, only realizing too late that the entire move had been a subtle feint. At the last moment Jane ducked to the side and spun on one foot, bringing her tiny blade in a wide arc towards Carl’s now exposed side. With a speed that belied his bulk Carl altered his direction just enough to bring his blade around and block the strike, but now he was off balance, and he knew it.
A breathtaking flurry of strike and counter strikes erupted as Jane inexorably forced the larger, slower man back, their blades igniting sparks as they connected.
Carl cried out in pain, his blade slipping from nerveless fingers to clatter uselessly on the cobbled ground. Carl grabbed at his right forearm and Hunt could see blood flowing freely to the ground from his hand. Realizing he had lost this battle Carl cast a last, hateful glance towards Hunt, before turning and fleeing. Jane followed him as far as the entrance to the side alley before stopping to watch him make his getaway.
Hunt sat in silence, his back against the wall of the alley as he watched Jane return, her movements now casual and relaxed. She reached the first of the four prone figures and placed two fingers to his neck, checking for any signs of life. Satisfied, she wiped her blade on his shirt and placed it back in her scabbard, then moved quickly to the next figure. The silence in the alleyway was quickly becoming oppressive.
“Are they…….?” Hunt couldn’t muster the word.
“Dead?” Jane finished.
Hunt nodded.
Jane took a hard look at Hunt. “They were here to kill you. This seemed like a better option to me.”
Amazon ✯ Top Shelf Publishing ✯ iTunes ✯ Kobo ✯ BAM! ✯ B&N ✯ Goodreads
Having spent ten years working as an actor and film-maker John was forced to give that career up five years ago in order to look after his mother following a debilitating stroke.
Today, John works from his home in Northern England, exploring new ways to bring out his creative nature. The Unwilling Recruit begins a long running series of novels that John hopes will keep readers entertained for many years.
MoB’s 3rd Birthday Bash Paranormal Promo Tour
Magic of Books Promotions hosted its first tour during the month of November three years ago.
The company was created from the passion and desire of its owner, Tami Adams, because of her experiences as an author. From her struggles to have her books viewed and appreciated she knew there had to be another way.
Three years later Tami no longer writes but is determined to show the world the magic that lies within the pages of all books.The following authors are helping Magic of Books to celebrate its birthday. Enjoy.
Message from Tami:
The last three years have been an incredible journey. I've made so many friends who began as bloggers, readers, and authors. I have been privileged to present and showcase new and old books from seasoned and new authors. I've learned so much I didn't even realize I should know prior to getting into this business. And after three years I can honestly say I'm still learning, I'm still growing, and I'm still making friends. I love and appreciate all of you who have supported my little slice of heaven. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
PARANORMAL
Paranormal in traditional literary terms is related to the claimed occurrence of an event or perception without scientific explanation, such as psychokinesis, extrasensory perception, or other purportedly supernatural phenomena.
Please enjoy these books that focus on paranormal and all the sub-genres. The list is available in alphabetically order by title.
Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter.
✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
Midnight Angel by Tracey A Wood
Paranormal
Following an attack by an unknown predator, Kat Shaw’s life is sent spiraling into a world of death and the creatures from nightmares. She finds herself in the situation of being the victim of a stalker who is killing people she is associated with. She is horrified to discover that she is psychically connected to this serial killer and she is thrown into a battle of Good vs. Evil.
Her only saving grace are the men in her life, who are not from this world. She falls in love with an angel, and she has to fight the demons from hell to protect her loved ones as well as her own life.
My Soul to Give by Magali A. Fréchette
Paranormal Mystery Romance
When Celina Leviet escapes the brutal home invasion that kills her husband, she’s left with a bullet in her gut and vengeance in her heart. An alluring demon, Mekaisto, offers an irresistible deal—in exchange for her soul, he’ll let her live long enough to get her revenge, but she must hunt and kill the murderers herself.
After sealing the contract, Celina digs into her husband’s past for clues about his murder, and what she uncovers makes her question everything she thought she knew about him.
His company never existed.
His family history was a lie.
And he was involved with The Lumen, a shadowy religious order whose members know too much about demons. As the life she thought she knew crumbles around her, Mekaisto's charms become harder to resist. Forced to face a horrible truth, Celina struggles against her late husband’s betrayal and the dark seduction of the devil she knows.
Paranormal Romance
Tamara’s spicy scent thrills, seduces and weakens him like no other. She is his and he wants her. Unfortunately, she is done with men. Tamara’s been burned too many times in the past and she’s not looking for a relationship…..ever. But when she finds a stray dog on her doorstep she decides she wants a relationship with a male, after all- that of pet and pet owner.
Josh is not a dog and he has no interest in staying her pet. He has one burning desire- Tamara- in his bed, nightly and permanently. He will stop at nothing to convince Tamara they are better together and that he needs her, forever.
Their paths are intertwined and their future is inevitable but will Tamara allow Josh to love, cherish and protect her? Or will she say good-bye to the amazing, dedicated man whose loyalty and sweet promises could shatter her walls completely and consume her with desire?
The Garguiem: Levi by Lola White
Paranormal Romance
He’s part of an ancient order that’s been fighting corruption within the Catholic Church since the Middle Ages. She’s two months away from taking permanent vows to become a nun.
When Levi is sent to Waterview to investigate the possibility of demonic influences among the diocesan clergy, he meets Marcella, and immediately recognizes her as his other half, his gift from God.
He just has to convince her that love is worth leaving the nunnery for.
But as Levi starts leading Marcella down the path of temptation, her faith is tested in ways she never expected, and the one responsible for bringing evil to Waterview sees his chance to exploit her weakness.
The Garguiem: Liah by Lola White
Paranormal Romance
She’s an empathic warrior who refuses to feel her own emotions. He’s an abomination hiding his truth within the robes of a priest.
When Liah travels to Red Leaf City to investigate a group of clergymen she believes might be corrupted beyond forgiveness, she meets Father Anthony Angelli, a man who sends her suspicions—and her libido—into overdrive. He’s hiding something, but Liah can’t find any evidence of wrongdoing and she’s got her own issues to deal with.
Tony can’t drop the matter. Refusing to let his colleagues get away with their crimes, he starts his own investigation, dragging Liah back to town even while vowing not to fall to the temptation she embodies. Unfortunately, his interference puts them both on display at a wicked gathering, and the only way to get out alive is to expose the truth—then pray for mercy.
The King's Fate by Rissa Blakley
Paranormal Romance
In a world where Fae and Vampire will forever be at odds, a Vampire wins the crown, ruling the Fae Realm for the first time in history.
After the execution of the Succubus who attempted to murder the King, her Incubus vows to avenge her, putting a devious plot into action. Breaking Fae law, he creates what he thinks will be the most powerful half-breed known to the Realm, placing him as a pawn to make the King feel the pain of death while living.
The Incubus shows patience, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Upon his half-breed son’s eighteenth year, he conjures images full of romanticized thoughts and desires that pushes his son and the King together, creating a fiery love affair neither could have imagined.
Will the Incubus avenge his love?
Will the plot bring the King a fate worse than death?
Will the King and his male lover survive?
The Unwilling Recruit by John Evans
Supernatural/Thriller
Journalist John Hunt is known for taking any risk necessary to get the story. That is until his careless ambition leads to a hefty price. Reporting in Syria, John leads his cameraman Andrew three miles out of the safe zone. An explosion strikes. No one should have survived. But John did. After six months of rehabilitation, John is finally out of the hospital, he’s also out of work, and a horrific disfigurement is a constant reminder of that day. Already skating the edge of sanity, he is pushed further when his deceased cameraman pays him a visit. Both men should have died that day, yet one survived. Why, and to what end?
✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
BOUND BY SHADOWS by Reily Garrett
BOUND BY SHADOWS
The McAllister Justice Series, book 2
by Reily Garrett
Genre: Romantic Thriller
The architect of fear employs many forms.
Kidnapping and murder never crossed Kaylee’s mind when seeking a fresh start in Portland, a new beginning to shed the remnants of tragedy dogging her steps. After escaping from an underground cage, she fights to stay one step ahead of the killer bent on silencing his only witness. Kaylee.
Two months after dodging a sociopathic murderer’s best efforts, Caden McAllister flounders within a social sink hole, unable to move forward, too stubborn to step back. Guarded and wary, the private investigator’s stagnant lifestyle detonates into chaos when a battered and bloody young waif stumbles into his care.
Framed for a murdering a past lover, Caden must clear his name and overcome his charge’s doubts while keeping her out of the sex-slave trade. When betrayal ends with Kaylee’s re-capture, Caden must conquer his past and risk all or lose the one he has come to love.
Murder, mystery, underground tunnels, and romance are intertwined in this standalone romantic thriller, the second installment of the McAllister Justice Series.
Confusion and pain intertwined to delay Kaylee’s escape from the depths of a nightmare. Her subconscious’ attempt to alert her to some horror or another had been common the past two years, but this time the warning came with physical characteristics she couldn’t ignore.
The pain was an unwelcome element for which she could not account.
Cozy flannel sheets had never felt so rough under her cheek, nor had her head ached from a glass of wine. Despite the tomboy tag since adolescence, she appreciated certain creature comforts. The rough material scratching her face didn’t number among them.
A quiet foreboding swelled within that fuzzy twilight between the dream state and the hazy stages of surfing to consciousness. Sleep would be welcome if not for the musty odor and an undefined menace crowding her mind. Her brow furrowed as her pulse increased, awareness mounting with each painful throb.
Why is there dirt in my bed and what the hell is wrong with this mattress?
With each erratic contraction of her heart, the tension in her head increased, ratcheting like the shell around a drumhead until pain reverberated along every nerve. In grim anticipation, she reached to touch her temple. A crusty line of fibrous, threadlike strands crumbled in her brow line and snaked down to her ear.
Blood? What the hell?
Moving back to Portland had entailed a certain degree of compromise, yet shouldn’t include a cotton-mouth morning. This was too much. A light finger-comb revealed a large tangled knot and a painful lump over her ear.
Did I fall off the mattress and hit my head?
“Hey, kid. Wake up, damn it. Hurry.”
The harsh whisper embodied urgency and desperation that replicated and swelled within her chest.
What the fuck? The voice in her head wasn’t her own. Enlightenment would come after punching through the suffocating fog and fully emerging in the suddenly hostile world. Stabbing pain accompanied the dingy light spearing her eyes after cautiously lifting one lid.
A blur of flashbacks included sitting in an outdoor riverfront café enjoying the sunset with her favorite camera nestled in her lap. Snapping the riot of colors slipping into the ocean had equaled the day’s highpoint, nature’s way of assuring her she’d made the right decision in moving to Portland.
Now, for reasons evading memory, her gaze soft-focused on a scene defying logic.
“Kid, open your eyes before it’s too late. Grab the small rock by your head. Hide it behind you.”
Okaaay, evil mini me is crazy, and I will never drink wine again.
Five minutes of silence would help her collect her thoughts and allow time to search her virtual portfolio for whatever was causing the nausea-producing pests in her brain and stomach. Each vied for the position of top party host. Intuition whispered taking that time would be her undoing.
Instead of the distant hustle and bustle of city life swarming her senses, Kaylee found the intense quiet more disturbing than the harsh whisper. “Wait...what rock?”
Fragments of her surroundings wavered in and out of focus. Brick walls smeared with dirt were partially visible through the horizontal bars.
Horizontal bars?
She reached with shaking fingers to touch the rusted metal cylinders then tried to rattle them. They didn’t budge. A cramp in her thigh from resting in a semi-fetal position grew in intensity while her feet crowded against hard, cylindrical surfaces and prevented her from stretching out.
More bars.
She didn’t have the strength to yell.
The quick, indrawn breath was also not her own. “C’mon you stupid kid. Knock that off, or we’re both dead.”
A shower of dirt sprinkling her face and hair made her cough, the resultant sandy inhalation perpetuating the cycle.
The collaborative dream, having taken a southern turn into hell, brought another wave of anxiety along with nausea. Each of her senses plunged deeper into a dark abyss, taking logic and rational thought through a twisted, interactive roller-coaster ride.
Disorientation, chaos, and the first stirrings of panic took root like a well-fertilized seed that sent its growing tendrils sliding deep within the earth.
Loose dirt and small rocks covered the hard base and abraded her shoulder as she moved to a cramped position on her back. The changed perspective brought enlightenment.
That’s why the bars were horizontal.
“Fuck.” Details assimilated sluggishly. Dirt-covered metal comprised a bed, but it wasn’t in her apartment. Walls of brick as seen through her cage, lack of windows, and stale, dank air, pointed to an underground zip code.
Micro currents ferried a thick, putrid scent and muffled the faint, eerie groans of venting tunnels.
“What’s your name?” Again, a whisper twisted with annoyance and despair saturated the air.
Halting breaths and extreme concentration staved off the blind terror threatening her sanity.
“Kaylee. My name is Kaylee.” Slowly, she searched for the irritating heckler.
“Listen up, Kaylee. The bastard who took you is gonna be back soon, probably looking for a bit of afternoon delight. And he won’t be asking. He kidnapped you, too. I don’t know why.”
Kaylee’s befuddled mind took in more of her surroundings, low ceiling, dirt floor, cramped, cave-like room, and the caged, bedraggled woman three feet away. Purple and black surrounded her right eye and busted lip. Her shirt front hung in tatters, the ripped flannel exposing a large bruise above her breast.
“How long have we been here?” A torch along the wall cast flickering shadows over the adjoining cage, just short of her own.
Flickering—indicates an air current.
“The last thing I remember is shopping.” Tears trailed down the petite blonde’s mud-streaked alabaster cheeks which sharply contrasted the bruises marring her face.
“There’s a slight breeze coming from—that way.” Kaylee strained to see where the tunnel led. Pitch black. Some apparitional entity scuttled in the darkness beyond the seedy illumination and left the impression of ghostly stalkers. Stalkers that chittered in the dark. I’d rather see the boogeyman than rats. “We seem to be in an underground room?”
“Yeah. I think so. I woke up just like you, but the bastard tied my hands before my head cleared.” A sob choked further words as the victim’s wide eyes flickered around the room.
A cursory exploration of the small perimeter marked the filthy, tight confines, then the small, sharp-edged rock which fit in her palm. Instinct saw her sliding it behind her. Mud covered her jeans and colored her T-shirt and jacket. Bathing was the least of her worries.
“Someone slipped us a roofie.” Bruises, tattered flannel, and bound wrists conveyed the woman’s recent past.
Kaylee’s continued scrutiny yielded no clues of how to escape her dilemma. Even if she could squeeze her hand and arm through the bars’ two-inch gaps, she didn’t have the strength or leverage to break the heavy-duty padlock securing her prison.
“Yes. Yes. But at least you’re not tied up, yet.” The girl lifted her hands to reveal a double loop, plastic cuff. “See if you can break out.”
Release Date: Nov 12
Amazon ✯ Amazon Int'l ✯ Goodreads
A Dark Prequel to Digital Velocity
Theft of spirit is no one’s birthright.
A quirk of her X chromosome furnished Alexis with an edge few others enjoyed. After fate plunged her into orphan status and an intolerable foster home forced her to the streets, a group of prostitutes sheltered her from their vicious pimp. Seeing something special within, they nurtured and shielded her from their harsh reality until she could forge her own path in life.
Destiny frequently takes us back to our roots. Lexi’s return journey begins when a serial killer attacks one of her adopted sisters. Relying on courage and wit, she must stay a step ahead and secure evidence to free her family from a psychopathic murderer.
Book 1
The deadliest weapons are the ones we never see.
Keyboard prodigy, Lexi Donovan has risen from teenage orphan of the streets to complete independence with little help along the way. When a pervert threatens her friend, she sends an anonymous message to police, leading to a firefight that leaves a cop wounded.
Detective Ethan McAllister’s well-ordered life turned upside down the day an obscure text message led to a sexual predator’s identity and arrest. Since then, Callouston PD’s finest can’t trace the elusive hacker. The latest tip leads him to a brutal mutilation and a riddle indicating the identity of the next murder victim.
The dark net houses a playground for the morally depleted and criminally insane. When Lexi discovers the killer’s digital betting arena, she finds herself centered in a cyber stalker’s crosshairs, a psychopath bearing equal talent.
Street life strengthened Lexi while toughening her protective shell, but nothing could shield her from the shrewd detective forging a path to her heart.
Reily’s employment as an ICU nurse, private investigator, and work in the military police has given her countless experiences in a host of different environments to add a real world feel to her fiction.
Though her kids are her life, writing is Reily’s life after. The one enjoyed…after the kids are in bed or after they’re in school and the house is quiet. This is the time she kicks back with laptop and lapdog to give her imagination free rein.
In life, hobbies can come and go according to our physical abilities, but you can always enjoy a good book. Life isn’t perfect, but our imaginations can be. Relax, whether it’s in front of a fire or in your own personal dungeon. Take pleasure in a mental pause as you root for your favorite hero/heroine and bask in their accomplishments, then share your opinions of them over a coffee with your best friend (even if he’s four legged). Life is short. Cherish your time.
Website ✯ Blog ✯ Amazon ✯ Goodreads ✯ Twitter ✯ Facebook ✯ BookBub ✯ Newsletter
a Rafflecopter giveaway
A MATTER OF WAR by A.L. Simpson
A MATTER OF WAR
by A.L. Simpson
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Jack was on the last few days of his tour of Iraq when his truck was blown sky high by a missile. He and his two marine buddies survived, barely. Clinging to life Jack and his buddies are flown home to the US.
Bree is a nurse who accepts a position at the Military hospital where Jack is a patient. Before he even opens his eyes, she realizes they have a special connection.
Greg is an owner of real estate and passionately disagrees with the US Involvement in Iraq.
Liz is a talented musician who hides a dark secret. She is riddled with doubts and fears about her feelings for Greg.
Can Bree help Jack adjust, come to terms with his nightmares or will he succumb to the darkness?
After suffering the horrors of war, Jack knew - coming home was never going to be easy.
Can these four very different people sort out their differences and find happiness?
Washington DC
February 2011
Bree sat on a bench in the park and opened the paper to the Seeking Accommodation section. She was getting desperate. She had been in the hotel for more than a week and it was rapidly depleting her savings. The rents were expensive in the area near the hospital and she had no way of paying for an apartment on her own. She circled an ad in the paper. This one sounded perfect but she cautioned herself not to get too excited. A girl who had just graduated Uni, probably around the same age as her, needed someone willing to share an apartment. As luck would have it, the area was close to the hospital where she’d secured a job. Bree took her cell from her purse and with trembling fingers, tapped in the number she had circled.
“Hello?” The voice on the other end sounded shy, almost uncertain.
“Hi, my name is Breeanna Patterson, everyone calls me Bree,” she said, trying to get down to business quickly. “You posted an ad for a roommate?”
“Yes,” the girl replied. “Oh, I’m Liz Strickland by the way.”
“Can you tell me why you need to share?”
“Well,” Liz said, sounding more confident as the conversation progressed. In the background, Bree could hear Katy Perry. “I recently graduated from music school was lucky enough to get a position playing my viola in the National symphony.”
“Wow, you must really be good. That’s impressive for a recent graduate. Do you earn enough to live on?”
“Almost,” Liz sounded sheepish. “I tutor a few private students as well. But, housing here is so expensive…”
“Tell me about it,” Bree replied. “Makes perfect sense that you need someone to share.” Hopefully it would be her.
“What about you?”
Amazon ✯ Landing Page ✯ Createspace ✯ Goodreads
I have always loved to write and have a vivid and overactive imagination.
In my spare time, when I’m not writing, I love to walk, read and shop.
I believe no mountain is too hard to climb, no river is too wide to span and no journey is too difficult to complete. I follow my dreams and I urge and encourage others to do the same.
With a positive attitude, the impossible can become possible.
Facebook ✯ Website ✯ Goodreads ✯ Amazon ✯ Blog
MoB’s 3rd Birthday Bash Historical Promo Tour
Magic of Books Promotions hosted its first tour during the month of November three years ago.
The company was created from the passion and desire of its owner, Tami Adams, because of her experiences as an author. From her struggles to have her books viewed and appreciated she knew there had to be another way.
Three years later Tami no longer writes but is determined to show the world the magic that lies within the pages of all books.
The following authors are helping Magic of Books to celebrate its birthday. Enjoy.
Message from Tami:
The last three years have been an incredible journey. I've made so many friends who began as bloggers, readers, and authors. I have been privileged to present and showcase new and old books from seasoned and new authors. I've learned so much I didn't even realize I should know prior to getting into this business. And after three years I can honestly say I'm still learning, I'm still growing, and I'm still making friends. I love and appreciate all of you who have supported my little slice of heaven. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
HISTORICAL
Historical in traditional literary terms is when the plot takes place in a setting located in the past. Historical fiction can be an umbrella term; though commonly used as a synonym for describing the historical novel; the term can be applied to works in other narrative formats, such as those in the performing and visual arts like theatre, opera, cinema and television, as well as video games and graphic novels.
Please enjoy these books that focus on historical and all the sub-genres. The list is available in alphabetically order by title.Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter.
✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
1954 - Stockton, California
Knowing Uncle Sam is about to come knocking, twenty-one year old Jimmy Franks saves the government the cost of a stamp and preemptively enlists in the Navy. He loads up on stationery and pens, and with a heavy heart, kisses his lovely bride goodbye. Leaving his precious Suzy is the hardest thing he’s ever had to do.
Pregnant and left alone to deal with their feuding families, Suzy Franks is heartbroken when Jimmy ships out for the Mariana Islands. Knowing Guam is considered safe and that she will eventually be able to join him offers her little solace. Suzy's mettle is put to the test. Her husband's letters of love brings comfort, but 15 W. Gibson is a lonely place without him.
Magic in Her Eyes by Donna Dalton
Historical Romance
Meredith Talbot has a secret. In fact, she has nine secrets – her own and those of the eight orphans at Seaton House, a home for children. Each of them has a special talent that if exposed would get them labeled as witches. It is her responsibility to protect the children and their secrets and keep them safe from persecution. Marauding Indians force them into a nearby fort where their safety is threatened by fanatical townspeople and a captivating army officer who try to unmask the children's extraordinary abilities.
Lieutenant Preston Booth has one goal – to serve and protect his country. The military is the only life he has ever known. It’s the only life he wants. When a child is abducted and Preston goes after the culprit, Meredith has a vision of what will happen to him.
Does she risk everything by exposing her gift? Or keep her secret and risk losing him forever?
An Heiress by Midnight by Clair Brett
Regency Historical
Lady Louissa Adair was raised by her uncle to be anything but a lady, spending hours scrubbing the decks of his ill begotten ships. Now, he has tasked her with a more deadly task. If she refuses, any hope of finding her long-lost and possibly dead brother will be lost while her uncle moves up his timeline to marry her off to a most dastardly man. While doing her uncle’s bidding, a blasted Englishman running around Scotland sets upon being her champion – not that Louissa has ever needed one. If he doesn’t get them both killed, and she might just kill the fool herself, she faces an even bigger danger – losing her heart.
Lord Clive Colcord, Earl of Breakerton, had escaped to Scotland in an attempt to avoid scrutiny by his late father’s solicitors. It had been a quiet, if not boring rustication until he finds himself tasked by the local magistrate with apprehending the highwayman menacing the North Road. He doesn’t expect to discover a beguiling dark-haired beauty with more dangerous men in her life than Clive has sisters. Yet he finds himself offering aid in an attempt to protect this damsel in distress. He must help Louissa find the proof of her uncle’s crimes and find her brother before she is forced into marriage all the while not losing his own heart in the process.
Dealing with the Viscount by Clair Brett
Regency Historical
After making a wager of marriage to settle her father's gambling debts, Ella Bowen-Thorn Renwick escaped the husband she foolishly began to fall for and disappeared into the Scottish countryside carrying a secret. Four years later, and the owner of her own bakery, she is still not free of the demands of men when a violent and anonymous blackmailer threatens her, her livelihood...and her daughter. And then, there is him...
Viscount Renwick still mourns the wife he began to love before her untimely death--that is until he discovers her alive and well living in Scotland. Now, Devon's face to face with the wife he thought he'd buried and the daughter he never knew existed. He'd like nothing more than to welcome Ella back into his arms, but mysterious and troubling incidents and a history with an unloving father have Ella trusting no one.
But, if Renwick convinces his wife he's the husband she always dreamed of and the father their daughter deserves, will the scandalous secret the blackmailer is holding threaten their future together once more?
On Wings of Time by Linda Boulanger
Historical Romance with Time Travel elements
Just because they weren't looking for love doesn’t mean it won’t find them, even if time itself has to bend to bring them together.
One man with a dragon’s soul.
A self-proclaimed bachelor for life, modern-day Luke Tavish has no idea he’s more than a mere man. One thing’s for certain, though… he’s not looking for love. He doesn't want a relationship, but he needs the fair maiden from the past... in more ways than he knows.
One woman with the key to unlock his powers.
Amileigh McCollum isn’t your typical Medieval Lady. She's always known there's something special about her. She just isn't sure what. The day she rides beyond her father's gates alongside a man who isn't her husband, she’ll learn that destiny is about to find her.
Six hundred years separating them.
Forward to go back, time spirals out of control in an attempt to bring together a couple that is six hundred years apart. When Luke finds himself back in Ami’s world, he has to come to terms with his newfound identity and prepare for a battle he didn’t know he would have to fight, all while falling head-over-heels in love.
When the future calls him back, will he ask her to go? Would she say yes if he did?
Watch out, because Fate’s carefully woven web is about to be tested by human will, a kiss, and the flip of a coin.
✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
SHIFTER'S UNIVERSITY by K.R. Thompson
SHIFTER'S UNIVERSITY
BOOK 1
by K.R. Thompson
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Dragons, wolves, magic, and more...
Welcome to Shifter’s University!
Claire Pratten has a secret—one that she’s never shared with a soul. Whenever she is frightened, her “other” self comes out. Normally she has no problem hiding what she is, but lately life at her foster home has gotten harder and keeping her secret is getting tougher.
Logan Fairmont is a dragon shifter and more than accustomed to looking out for himself—and others. In fact, he is one of the few Imperium University students tasked with spending weekends in the city, searching for young shapeshifters on the edge of revealing their magic to the human race. When he finds Claire, Logan knows she will need the help of the University and its teachers to blend into society.
He thinks he knows what she is.
But magic is never quite so simple.
The wind caught beneath my wings, pushing me higher into the air. I readjusted slightly, feeling the slight tinge of magic as it raced along my scales. The shields were still intact. For that, I was more than grateful.
Otherwise, the non-magical humans who lived in the city below would be getting an eyeful.
I snorted and a small puff of smoke blew out my dragon’s nostrils. An eyeful, indeed. It would be pure chaos if the people of Roanoke realized a scaly monster flew above them on a regular basis each weekend, searching for other shapeshifters.
No doubt about it, they’d be bringing out the pitchforks. Nope. Scratch that, they’d be bringing out the guns, missiles, and who knows what else in an effort to shoot me down.
If they only knew how much magic surrounded them—in the air and on the ground.
Another gust of wind came and I spread my wings further, changing direction until I soared over Roanoke’s sister city, Salem.
Yep, Salem, just like the witchy town of Salem, Massachusetts, only this one is in Virginia and is every bit as witchy.
Another minute passed, and I was at my destination. I glanced down to the vacant lot beside of a small white house, dipping one wing experimentally to test the shields as I descended. They were still strong, so I dropped down to the ground, taking care not to let my wings wander outside of the magic that kept me invisible.
I shifted to human, my scales disappearing in a rush of blue flame that licked along my body, then walked toward the house.
The porch light was on.
I was expected.
I didn’t even have to knock. The door swung open to reveal a petite blonde girl who looked a good deal younger than I was, though I knew for a fact she was older than I. A year older to be exact. She was nineteen.
The light from the kitchen illuminated her, making her look ethereal.
“Hadley,” I acknowledged with a nod of my head. My hair swung toward my eyes with the movement and I brushed it away. “You wanted to see me?”
“Yes, hurry up and get in here,” she replied, waving her hand at me impatiently. “You haven’t got all night, you know.”
You, I noticed. Not we. You haven’t got all night. I walked through the open door, then stood in the kitchen, arms crossed over my chest.
Whatever Hadley Rose had in mind for me this evening, it would likely involve a lot of work. Rarely ever did the youngest of Salem’s witch coven request my presence, but when she did, it was serious business.
“Is it the shields?” I asked, when she didn’t say anything right away, my brain automatically searching for the worst possible outcome. A breach in the shields would most certainly be that. The coven kept Imperium University’s magic hidden from human eyes with a collection of spelled crystals placed strategically throughout the city and within the school’s grounds.
“No, no, the shields are fine,” she replied, handing me a multi-faceted crystal the color of an evening sky. “Bronwyn, Aunt Sally, and I strengthened them earlier today to be sure. This stone is for the east wing in the school’s main house. Everyone in and around Imperium will be safe enough, as well as the forest behind it and the skies above the city. But that isn’t why I sent for you…”
“Then what is it?”
Hadley bit her lip, as if thinking of the best way to say what was on her mind.
“Just spit it out. What do you need me to do, Hadley? You’ve already told me I haven’t got all night.” And I’d rather not spend it all here with you, trying to figure out what you want.
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. I have a friend that I need you to help. She left here a little while ago, so she should be home in a few minutes.” Hadley thrust a piece of paper into my hands. “Here’s her address.”
I looked at the scrap of paper, quickly mapping out the city’s streets in my head. “She doesn’t live in a great neighborhood. Mind telling me what I’m supposed to be helping her with?”
Hadley didn’t waste any time with her next words. “I need you to get her out of there.”
“What? Like move out? Do I look like a rent-a-dragon service?”
Hadley’s blue eyes narrowed to slits as if she was contemplating to zap me with a spell that would turn me into an entirely different reptile…a croaking one that preferred to eat flies. “Smart ass. She’s a shifter and her foster father has been beating her. She needs to get into Imperium and away from him.”
“What kind of shifter?” I asked, finding myself suddenly curious. As Roanoke and Salem were in the mountain regions of Virginia, the majority of the shapeshifters I encountered were woodland. There was a pack of wolves, several bear, and even a few smaller shifters—the smallest, thus far, having the ability to shift into a small, blue butterfly. Imperium School was full of woodlands to the point the headmistress wouldn’t let just anyone in. It would be nice to have another dragon, though.
“She’s a fox…I think,” Hadley said, scrunching up her nose, as if she wasn’t entirely sure.
“You think? Magda won’t let her in if she’s just a woodland shifter. She’ll have to…”
Hadley cut me off. “To have problems fitting in with the human world,” she finished my sentence with a nod of her head. “Yes, I know that. I’m telling you, if you go right now, you’ll see the problems she has. If anyone has ever needed into Imperium, it’s Claire.”
Amazon ✯ B&N ✯ iTunes ✯ Kobo ✯ GPlay ✯ Goodreads
K.R. Thompson writes paranormal stories with a bite and fairytales with a twist. An avid reader and firm believer in the magic of books, she spends her nights either reading an adventure or writing one.
She still watches for evidence of Bigfoot in the mud of Wolf Creek.
Be the first to know about new releases! Join my VIP mailing list for the latest in my stories, exclusive excerpts, giveaways, contests, and more!
Goodreads ✯ Twitter ✯ Facebook ✯ Amazon ✯ Website
November 1, 2017
MoB’s 3rd Birthday Bash Romance Promo Tour
Magic of Books Promotions hosted its first tour during the month of November three years ago.
The company was created from the passion and desire of its owner, Tami Adams, because of her experiences as an author. From her struggles to have her books viewed and appreciated she knew there had to be another way.
Three years later Tami no longer writes but is determined to show the world the magic that lies within the pages of all books.
The following authors are helping Magic of Books to celebrate its birthday. Enjoy.
Message from Tami:
The last three years have been an incredible journey. I've made so many friends who began as bloggers, readers, and authors. I have been privileged to present and showcase new and old books from seasoned and new authors. I've learned so much I didn't even realize I should know prior to getting into this business. And after three years I can honestly say I'm still learning, I'm still growing, and I'm still making friends. I love and appreciate all of you who have supported my little slice of heaven. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
ROMANCE
Romance in traditional literary terms is a narration of the extraordinary exploits of heroes, often in exotic or mysterious settings. The term romance has also been used for stories of mysterious adventures, not necessarily of heroes. These adventure romances usually are set in distant places.
Please enjoy these books that focus on romance and all the sub-genres. The list is available in alphabetically order by title.
Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter.
✯ ✯ ✯ ✯
A Journey Home by Angela Scavone
Contemporary Romance
Air Force Captain Stephanie Tyler's sole duty is to fly overseas to war torn areas of the world to retrieve and escort the bodies of fallen soldiers back home to the United States. It is a tough and emotional job but she is honored for the privilege. Her duty also helps her to escape her past and her failed marriage.
But those flights have become increasingly more dangerous and she is forced to have a partner accompany her. Much to Stephanie's surprise and dismay, she is partnered up with her ex-husband, Captain Douglas 'DA' Aston.
From the moment DA enters the scene, he irritates her. It could have something to do with the fact he slept with her best friend while she and DA were married. As they go on several missions together, Stephanie is forced to be courteous and professional with DA even though the very sight of him irritates her beyond comprehension.
Then, Stephanie's cheating, husband stealing, ex-best friend is killed in Afghanistan and Stephanie and DA must escort her body home. While executing this difficult duty, a myriad of conflicting emotions makes Stephanie ponder how short life really is . . . and to question her own ability to forgive.
Early One Morning by Aubree Lane
Contemporary Romance
Under the guise of saving her best friend’s marriage, Annie Harper catches the red-eye out of LAX to Oahu. Less than twenty-four hours after hearing Marissa wanted to kiss their old high school crush, Annie sails away with the handsome owner of the Erika Rose excursion boat. She only meant to keep Terence Javier from locking lips with Marissa, but the moment she learns his little girl needs an advocate, Annie brings her friend back into the fray and destroys the remnants of Marissa’s vacation.
Caught between two women from the mainland, Terence Javier finds himself at a crossroad. Ten years ago, he had the dubious honor of having his high school photograph drooled on by Annie and Marissa’s choir class. If not for his daughter and the ensuing custody battle, he wouldn’t have given either woman more than an appreciative glance. When Marissa’s credentials check out, he has little choice but to accept the savvy lawyer’s offer of help. Knowing he’s walking a tightrope, Terence prays he can purge the beautiful Annie from his mind and keep the balled fist of Marissa’s jealous husband away from his nose.
Hotter Than The Caribbean by Stacy Hoff
Contemporary Romance
Luis Serrano, the unwanted love child of a hotel construction magnate, is determined to reach his father’s level of success. When Luis finds himself pitted against his half-brother for control over their ailing father's company, sibling rivalry comes to a head. The stakes are high. The brother who best completes their portion of the Caribbean construction project will gain control over the entire company. To win, Luis hires an interior design firm. But the firm will have to perform difficult work under serious time constraints.
Melanie Merritt is used to sibling rivalry. She’s always been second best to her older sister, the "golden child" of their parents' interior design firm. Melanie's desire is to be an artist. She works for her family to appease them. Her newest task is to implement a complex project for Luis Serrano under an impossibly short deadline. If she fails, her family’s company may go bankrupt. But Melanie can’t keep her too-creative ideas away from her family, and the client.
Completing work on time won't be easy. Especially when dual sibling rivalries threaten to destroy the project, and a passion hotter than the Caribbean.
Contemporary Romance
This book can be read as a standalone.
Love can be stronger than friendship, but what happens when love takes an unpredictable turn?
Valerie Lee has left Seattle, including everyone she knows and loves, to join long-time boyfriend John Maverick at the University of Boston. Fast forward a year later to graduation. Val is excited about heading back to her hometown, but John wants to stay and climb his way to the top in Boston. She doesn’t agree with the change of plans so takes matters into her own hands. When she leaves like a thief in the night, there will be a lot to explain.
The night before her big future-changing step, she meets country singer Miles Kent. Worried about her state of being for his own personal reasons, he extracts a promise from Val to keep in touch until she arrives at her destination.
Jobless and homeless, Val arrives unprepared to face her friends and family, so spends her first night in a cheap hotel. It doesn’t take long for word to spread that she’s back in town. A call to her old friend Nix, and things don’t seem quite so impossible anymore. Will her friends support her decision? Will she regret leaving John and their life in Boston? Or will her hometown, and new adventures, bring her the happiness she’s hoped for?
Contemporary Romance
Two lawyers on opposite sides of the aisle despise one another...at first.
When Jude Crandall fights for justice, she is a formidable opponent. Malik Moore may hate his job as an attorney for a prestigious Chicago law firm, but he stands up to the force of prosecutor Jude in the battle of opposites.
They disagree on most everything, except the love they both feel for their dogs, a Boston terrier and a Jack Russell terrier. When Jude's Italian mother and Malik's Iranian mother decide they are a great match, Jude and Malik are thrown together out of the courtroom. Both dogs and mothers fight to bring the two sides together.
But his Persian heritage and her father's political-aspirations throw the biggest barrier of all between them. Their dogs, Clyde and Suzanne, show them how to love. It's up to the two lawyers to overcome culture, religion, and their families to find happiness.
Love on Trial is the first book in the Rivals in Love contemporary romance series set in Chicago. The six Crandall siblings find success in their careers, but sustaining a relationship eludes all six of them.Their father, a U.S. senator, demands perfection, and their mother, heiress to a Chicago meat-packing conglomerate, only wants grandchildren to fill her empty nest. A lawyer, a pilot, an actress, a race car driver, a cable news anchor,and a chef--over-achievers all--discover there is more to life than a career.
Out of the Box Awakening by Jennifer Theriot
Contemporary Romance
**2017 Texas Association of Authors 1st Place: Romance Series**
**2016 Reader's Favorite Award Winner in Women's Fiction**
Olivia Petersen thought her life ended the day her husband walked out. Little did she know, it had only just begun.
A good woman, mother, and wife, she's got it made. She didn't expect anything to change, but of course it does...
Swept from her perfect paper-doll life in Houston, Olivia finds herself in Chicago, alone, betrayed, and far from home. Soon everything she thought she knew about herself and her life will be challenged.
Ash Harper is the man who has everything--everything except healing from the losses of a lifetime and a dark family secret.
What happens when the married woman and the sexy handsome widower are thrown together by fate?
Out of the Box Awakening is a women's seasoned contemporary romance about second chances, shared passion and shared joy. Jennifer Theriot has written a compelling series about what happens when two people over the age of forty find new life and new love for themselves.
Recommended for readers over the age of 18. This book contains adult language and situations.
Romantic Mystery/Suspense
When Cara Lee Greene finds that the glitz and glitter of casino life isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, she divorces the Lake’s self-proclaimed King of Tahoe, and tries to separate herself from the rich and powerful Alexander family. In her quest for a new life, Cara is able to reconnect with some old friends. She finds a new home, a new love and a new piece of jewelry around her ankle. Under house arrest and accused of a crime she didn’t commit, Cara must rely on a funky group of misfits to uncover the truth and set her free.
Believing himself above society’s mores, Duncan Alexander doesn’t know what he has until his beautiful college professor wife walks in and finds him in bed with another woman. Losing Cara is not an option and Duncan will do anything to get her back. With a family whose wealth was built on profiteering during the Prohibition years, Duncan is not above doing what he deems necessary to retrieve his queen. His family sits on the sidelines. They have given Duncan free rein, but in the end will Duncan be able to retain his throne?
